Lakewood Confidential (A Cross Springs Novella)

By Caren Crane

A desperate artist. A reclusive legend. A story no one knows.

Tondra only has a few months to prove to her parents she can support herself as an artist in New York City or they will force her to return to her native Atlanta. She left her parents and boyfriend behind to pursue her dream career and desperately needs an entrée into the art world. She trained as a tattoo artist as a financial back-up plan, which comes in handy when her new friend Friday Reed asks her to do a guest spot on the Reed brothers' tattoo shop reality show. Tondra knows this exposure on national television is the break she's been waiting for.

When she shows up for her guest gig, she is astonished to learn her skin of the day is none other than legendary hip-hop artist Lakewood, another Atlanta native. Tondra realizes that working with him on the TV show is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to showcase her talent. However, when she asks what sort of artwork he wants for his tattoo, Lakewood proceeds to tell her the story of his life. Not the story the world thinks it knows, but the one he has never shared publicly. He doesn't allow the story to be taped, but all the details are trapped in her mind and sketchbook.

Tondra knows his story is worth a mint to the insatiable celebrity gossip machine. It would also get her even more media attention than the reality show spot ever could. She faces a serious choice that will affect the course of her career and the rest of her life.

This novella was originally published as part of the "Forget Me Not: Remembering Things We Have Lost" anthology to benefit Alzheimer's and dementia research.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Caren Crane
• Release date: Apr 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311052735

Caren Crane

Having successfully booted the last of my three children out the door to college (children who, hopefully, will never move home again for longer than summer break), I decided watching dust gather was probably not a viable past time. Now, in addition to working a dreaded day job as a product analyst, I ignore the state of my house and work diligently to write and publish heartwarming novels with a healthy dose of humor, a splash of romance and a heaping helping of family.I share my (very dusty) North Carolina home with my darling husband (the most tolerant man in the universe) and the environs around my house with my incredibly feisty young cat, Kimba the O.G. White Lion. Kimba is charming and still more feral than we would like. His favorite things are fingers. He wants to gnaw them. He has many more toys than are recommended and, although he'd tell you otherwise, he gets a ton of attention (whether we want to give it to him or not).

Book preview

Lakewood Confidential

A Cross Springs Novella

Caren Crane

Copyright 2015 Caren Crane

Cover Design by Lily Smith, Covers by Lily

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without written permission.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

This novella is dedicated to my good friend Tammy Falkner. Thank you for loving young people as much as I do and for being a fearless champion of the neglected, the downtrodden and the misunderstood. You are an exceptional woman and one of my favorite people. I promise never to hug you unless you ask.

Chapter 1

The Reed brothers' shop was strangely busy for a Tuesday morning. Then again, the film crew was in today so everyone had shown up early. Way early.

Morning, Tondra! I'm so glad you're with us today.

Friday poked her head in the doorway of my workroom. I was blown away, as always, by her presence. She had it going on with the clothes and makeup and wild-colored hair. We had met a while back when she stopped at the table where I was selling prints of my artwork in Washington Square.

She admired my work, I admired her style. I noticed her ink, she noticed mine. Turned out she worked at Reed's and I had just finished my apprenticeship as a tattoo artist in Atlanta. First month in New York City and fate brought me Friday. When she asked last week if I would do a spot as a guest artist at Reed's and agree to be featured on their reality show, I knew I had made the right decision when I left Georgia, my family. Kendrick.

I shook off my ghosts. You knew I wouldn't miss this for anything. When do the skins arrive?

Should be any time now. Word gets out when we're filming. A wicked gleam shone in her eyes. Brings in the crazies.

I lifted an eyebrow and shot a look to Johnny, the cameraman filming me today.

He shrugged and nodded.

I smiled. Nothing like trial by fire.

No worries, Friday said. "I talked to someone over the weekend who is your perfect client. Someone with a story worth telling. Someone who'll inspire you."

The bell over the front door rang yet again. Friday disappeared before I could find out who this perfect client was. Must be someone who needed original art, which was what I had hoped for. No use wasting my precious onscreen opportunity doing flash. I needed this to be a great session, a breakout day. I needed a break, period.

I heard Friday's voice approaching and the distinctive click of her high heels. This is Tondra, your artist. Tondra, this is Sam. You kids have fun!

We traded hellos